The ‘NKR’ will hold a population census in 2005
Ekho, Baku
20 Nov 04
By E. Alakbarov
The government of the unrecognized “Nagornyy Karabakh Republic” [NKR]
(quotation marks inserted by us here and throughout – author) has
decided to conduct a population census in 2005 (RIA
Novosti). According to the national statistics service of the “NKR”,
as of 1 October 2004 the population of Nagornyy Karabakh was 146,592
people. The last population census in the “NKR” was carried out in
1989.
The State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan has told Ekho that
according to the last census, the “NKR” population was 120,000
people. The source said that the Karabakh separatists had distorted
the real figures.
“The indicated figure has been deliberately blown out of
proportion. The figures suggest that about 20,000 people have moved to
Karabakh over the last five years. It is hard to believe that the
‘NKR’, an economically backward region, is being settled
voluntarily. The indicated figures are most likely to be wide of the
mark,” the source at the State Statistical Committee said.
While commenting to Ekho on the separatists’ intention to conduct a
population census in 2005, the head of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry’s press service, Matin Mirza, said Azerbaijan was against the
artificial settlement of the Azerbaijani region. A population census
cannot be held in Nagornyy Karabakh as long as the Karabakh conflict
remains unresolved. He said the separatists are flouting international
law and the principles of the Geneva convention. The head of the press
service added that this was why Azerbaijan had insisted that the issue
of the situation in Nagornyy Karabakh be included in the agenda of the
UN General Assembly session.
Military expert Uzeyir Cafarov, who visited the occupied Nagornyy
Karabakh several years ago, has told Ekho that the Karabakh population
figures are not accurate. He said the Karabakh population had sharply
fallen as compared to the pre-conflict period.
“The current figure is several times lower than that. The Armenians
understand very well that the cease-fire will end sooner or later, and
therefore, they are trying to leave. Those remaining in the ‘NKR’ live
in ramshackle and slightly refurbished houses and buildings. I didn’t
see any densely-populated areas,” Cafarov said.
He believes that by making such statements the Karabakh separatists
are trying to create the impression that people are moving to the
region. In this way, they want to “fish” assistance out of
international humanitarian organizations.
“If the Armenians show the real figures, the humanitarian assistance
will be reduced,” the expert said.

ARKA News Agency
Dec 2 2004
Nagorno Karabakh should not become subject to speculations
Azerbaijan in panics as seriously looses on diplomatic scene
Because of crash on Rostelecom line Armenia deprived of Internet
access
*********************************************************************
NAGORNO KARABAKH SHOULD NOT BECOME SUBJECT TO SPECULATIONS
YEREVAN, December 2. /ARKA/. Nagorno Karabakh should not become
subject to speculations, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian stated
today in the inteview to Public Television of Armenia. According to
him, opposition tries to use the topic of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
for achievement of their political goals.
Mentioning statements of Armenian opposition members that authorities
of the country delay the adoption of decision on Karabakh conflict on
purpose, Oskanian said that `the problem will be delayed just as long
as the settlement won’t come from the interests of Armenian people.
We will not cease controlled territories, without corrections in the
issue on self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh’. Oskanian called to
opposition to join efforts in the issue of Karabakh settlement.
Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when Nagorno Karabakh predominantly
populated with Armenians stated about its independence from
Azerbaijan. Military actions ceased after Armenia and Azerbaijan
signed armistice on May 12 1994. The cease-fire regime has been
observed up to date. L.D. -0–
*********************************************************************
AZERBAIJAN IN PANICS AS SERIOUSLY LOOSES ON DIPLOMATIC SCENE
YEREVAN, December 2. /ARKA/. Azerbaijan is in panics as it seriously
looses on the diplomatic scene, as Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian said in his interview to Public TV of Armenia. In his words,
today Azerbaijan became quite aggressive. `This aggressiveness is
explained by our success achieved during the last 5-6 years. New
Azerbaijani authorities visit different institutions and they do not
know what institution to include in the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. Meanwhile many of these states are not aware of
the essence of the conflict and with the support of these countries
Baku is attempting to depart the attention from the issue essence’,
he added. In his words, the previous Azerbaijani President Heydar
Aliyev would not have made obstacles for Georgian cargo thru
Azerbaijani territory by supposing that part of them can go to
Armenia. `Detention of the cargo on the Georgian border, application
to the UN – all these are steps dictated by desperate state’, he
added. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
BECAUSE OF CRASH ON ROSTELECOM LINE ARMENIA DEPRIVED OF INTERNET
ACCESS
YEREVAN, December 2. /ARKA/. Since 3 p.m. the majority of Armenian
providers were deprived of Internet communication. As CEO of Arminco
provider company Andranik Alexanyan told, the reason of this was
crash on Rostelecom’s line. In his words, it is difficult to forecast
when Armenia will be able to re-connect to the world wide web. `We
have no idea what the reason of the crash and when it will be
repaired, however we can assure that our lines work uninterruptedly’,
he added. T.M. -0–

PanArmenian News
Dec 2 2004
ARMENIAN POLITICIAN SUPPOSES ISSUE OF RETURN OF ARMENIAN TERRITORIES,
OCCUPIED BY AZERBAIJAN, MAY APPEAR
02.12.2004 18:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ARMENIAN POLITICIAN SUPPOSES ISSUE OF RETURN OF
ARMENIAN TERRITORIES, OCCUPIED BY AZERBAIJAN, MAY APPEAR “If the
question of return of territories being controlled by Armenians in
the security belt around the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is raised, the
question of return of Armenian Shahumian and Getashen territories may
appear,” leader of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party
of Armenia Galust Sahakian supposes. At today’s press conference
leader of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of
Armenia Galust Sahakian reminded that the international community was
not able to prevent the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and the
slaughter in Sumgait (Azerbaijan). He stated it within the context of
the question of the PACE draft report on Nagorno Karabakh, being
discussed lately. Galust Sahakian called the political forces of the
country not to use the Nagorno Karabakh issue in the internal
political struggle and not to “scare the people.” He also noted that
if the question of return of territories being controlled by
Armenians in the security belt around the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
is raised, the issue of return of Armenian territories of Shahumian
and Getashen, occupied by Azerbaijan, may appear. It should be
reminded that being part of the NKR, Getashen and Shahumian regions,
which had been populated by Armenians, were seized by Azeri forces in
1991-1992 with the support of the Soviet and Russian armies. The
Armenian population was either deported or annihilated.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – December 2, 2004
COMMITTEE FOR UNITED COMMEMORATION
OF 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE FORMED
Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, a
committee has been formed to organize a pan-Armenian American commemoration
of the 90th anniversary of the Genocide next year. The commemoration will
take place in New York City on Sunday, April 24, 2005.
The joint commemorative committee convened its first meeting on October
21. Roy Stepanian of St. Mary Armenian Church, Livingston, New Jersey, and
Ken Sarajian of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey have been
appointed by the Diocese and the Prelacy to serve as co-chairs. With the
attendance and support of major Armenian American groups, the committee
began its work. The immediate task will be the formation of subcommittees to
plan specific events, prepare educational and press materials, and begin
fundraising to underwrite the commemoration.
>From press release issued by the Joint Committee
ST. GREGORY CHURCH, GRANITE CITY
CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, will be with the
parish of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Granite City, Illinois, to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the church. His Eminence will travel to
Granite City. On Saturday he will preside over services in the former church
of the parish followed by a fellowship hour. His Eminence will officiate at
the Divine Liturgy services on Sunday, assisted by Rev. Fr. Serop Azarian,
pastor of the church. A celebratory banquet will follow.
The original St. Gregory Church, a small church on Maple Street, was
consecrated on December 5, 1954. A new and much larger church, a few miles
from the original site, was built and consecrated on October 12, 1997. In
2001 a Memorial was erected to honor the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide,
along with a Walk of Remembrance that recognizes other family memorials.
Saturday evening arrangements have been made for informal nostalgic
remembrances with photographs and memorabilia covering the fifty-year
history of the parish.
In conjunction with the commemorations, parishioners will participate in
a mortgage burning ceremony thanks to an aggressive fundraising drive, which
enabled the church to pay its mortgage debt and establish an endowment fund.
CATHOLICOS ARAM IN GENEVA
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, left
Antelias last Saturday, November 27, for Geneva where he will preside over
the meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the World Council of
Churches. His Holiness is the Moderator of the WCC. During his visit to
Geneva and the headquarters of the WCC, His Holiness will deliver a prime
lecture on Ecumenism in the 21st Century.
CHRISTMAS FAMILY CONCERT ON SATURDAY
CELEBRATES THE YEAR OF THE FAMILY
During 2004, which was designated as The Year of the Family by His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Prelacy has
set its goals with the health and welfare of our families. Although the
yearlong celebration will come to an end with a Family Christmas Concert
this Saturday, December 4, certainly the Prelacy’s focus on the family will
continue as it has always.
The December 4th concert at the Alliance Française in New York City,
featuring Nvair and her HyeFamily friends and special guest from California,
Taline, has been sold-out for more than a month.
Youngsters attending with their parents are due for an exciting
afternoon with many surprises.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN PARTICIPATES
IN AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Archbishop Oshagan participated in the meetings this week of the
National Church Leadership Council organized by the American Bible Society.
The meetings took place in New York City, Monday and Tuesday, November 29
and 30. The theme of the meetings was, An Effective Church in a Post-Modern
World.
ST. SARKIS WILL HONOR POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over special morning services and
luncheon in honor of the police of the 111th precinct and fire fighters of
Bayside, New York, organized by St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New
York.
This annual service and luncheon by St. Sarkis Church has helped bring
the church and community closer together.
THADDEUS AND BARTHOLOMEW
This Saturday, December 4, the Armenian Church commemorates Sts.
Thaddeus and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first
evangelizers of Armenia and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church
its apostolic identity.
Thaddeus came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He was
martyred in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian monastery of
St. Thaddeus (now Iran) where a chapel was built in the third century.
Bartholomew is thought to have come to Armenia about 66 AD. He was
martyred in Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 5, is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent, the
solemn period anticipating the birth of the Savior, is a period of
contemplation. This week let us think of those less fortunate than us and
take some action to help.
NEXT TUESDAY IS 16TH ANNIVERSARY
OF EARTHQUAKE IN ARMENIA
Next Tuesday, December 7, is the 16th anniversary of the earthquake in
Armenia that shook the very foundations of the Soviet Empire. Our thoughts
and prayers are with the families that suffered great loss and continue to
strive to reach normalcy. God rest the souls of those who perished and peace
to those who survived.
DECEMBER 7TH IS ALSO PEARL HARBOR DAY
At dawn on Sunday, December 7, 1941, naval aviation forces of the Empire
of Japan attacked the United States Pacific Fleet center at Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, and other military targets. The sneak attack against Pearl Harbor
brought an immediate reaction of unprecedented unity from the American
people. Families from every class sent their sons and daughters to war,
bringing the U.S. into World War II in full force. Women joined the work
force and took over the jobs that were generally reserved for men.
Ultimately it was the industrial strength of the United States and the will
of the people that was the foundation of the U.S. victory.
TODAY MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH
OF ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
Today, December 2 marks the first anniversary of the passing of His
Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian who died in New York City where he was
visiting family and introducing his latest book, The Etchmiadzin Chronicles.
Our community was shocked and stunned as the news of his sudden death
spread.
On Sunday, December 12, all Prelacy churches will observe the first
anniversary of his passing with Requiem Services and Madagh. Archbishop
Oshagan will be at St. Illuminator Cathedral in New York City, where the
Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Souren
Kataroyan, the former Prelate of Aleppo.
Archbishop Ashjian served as Prelate of the Eastern United States and
Canada for twenty years from January 1978 to May 1998. He also served as the
Executive Secretary of the 1700th anniversary of Christian Armenia and he
presided over a host of programs spreading the Light of Christianity and
benefiting the general population of Armenia and Artsakh.
Therefore, and we beseech you O heavenly Father, accept our deceased in
your Upper Jerusalem, in the gathering of those, who have been registered
first into the heavens. (from Armenian Requiem Hymn)
We end this week with a quote from a 1995 New Year message by Archbishop
Ashjian:
Traditionally the New Year has come to symbolize a time to reflect on
one’s own life and the general condition of the human race. Somehow, with
the coming of a new year-almost miraculously-life’s slate seems to be clean
and ready to be filled anew. This time, we think, we are determined to
change our ways, to have better priorities, to make this year better than
last. The changes that have taken place in our national lives in less than a
decade are enough to fill half a century. For so many years we went along
almost by rote with little, if any, deviation. And then on that fateful day
of December 7, 1988, the earthquake in northern Armenia brought upheaval and
change not only to Armenia but also to every corner of the Armenian
Diaspora. Life has not been the same since, nor will it ever be.
Visit our website at

PanArmenian News
Dec 2 2004
“KARABAKH PROBLEM NOT ONLY FOR AZERBAIJAN, BUT WHOLE ISLAMIC WORLD”
02.12.2004 18:26
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Karabakh is a problem not only for Azerbaijan, but
also the whole Islamic world,” stated representative of the
International Islamic Youth Conference Saad bin Fahd al Khiid. In his
turn leader of the board of Muslims of the Caucasus sheik ul-Islam
Allahshukur Pashazade stated that the Islamic Conferences is the only
organization that backs the Azerbaijani position in the Karabakh
settlement. He stated it when commenting on the visit of Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev to Qatar to meet with Islamic Conferences
leaders. Azerbaijan is member of the Islamic Conferences since 1992,
however official Baku becoming close with the organization takes
place recently after the Islamic Conferences member countries
supported Azerbaijan in its initiative to submit the Nagorno Karabakh
problem for discussion by the UN. Meanwhile, Islamists, in the
opinion of many political scientists, can become an actual political
force in Azerbaijan in the near future.

Azeri leader receives credentials of Iraqi, Japanese, Ukrainian envoys
ANS TV, Baku
2 Dec 04
Presenter Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev today received the
credentials of the newly-appointed ambassadors to Azerbaijan from
Iraq, Japan and Ukraine.
Correspondent, over video of the ceremony The president first met
Japanese ambassador Tadahiro Abe. The Japanese ambassador spoke about
friendly relations between the two countries and the history of
bilateral ties. He conveyed his emperor’s greetings to Ilham
Aliyev. President Aliyev spoke about cooperation with the Japanese
government within the framework of international organizations. The
Japanese government has allocated major loans to Azerbaijan so far and
major projects are being implemented due to those loans, he said.
President Aliyev thanked the ambassador and his government for
cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and for schools built in
Azerbaijan on the funds allocated by the Japanese government.
Then Aliyev received the credentials of Ukrainian ambassador Anatoliy
Yurchenko. The ambassador said that he had arrived in Azerbaijan at a
difficult time for his country. However, he hoped that his activity
would give an impetus for the development of relations between the two
countries. He said that Azerbaijan and Ukraine were successfully
developing cooperation within the framework of the CIS, the Council of
Europe and the GUUAM Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and
Moldova countries.
President Aliyev said that Ukraine always supported Azerbaijan in the
Karabakh settlement.
The Karabakh conflict was a focus of attention when the president
received the credentials of Iraqi ambassador Umar Isma’il. The
president recalled that the Azerbaijani lands had been occupied by
Armenians and said that the Iraqi people was also living through hard
times. He hoped that peace will be restored in this Middle East
country soon.
Leyla Hasanova, Ali Ahmadov, Ibrahim Telmanoglu for ANS.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agency: Ethnic minorities to be represented in Romanian parliament
Rompres news agency
2 Dec 04
Bucharest, 2 December: Twenty-eight organizations and associations of
ethnic minorities registered in the parliamentary electoral race in
Romania, with the polls held on 28 November, further to the acceptance
by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) of the logos and lists and
supporting signatures presented by them, daily Nine O’Clock says on
Thursday 2 December .
Since the beginning of the registration of the electoral process, BEC
has rejected the requests of several minorities’ organizations to
participate in the parliamentary election. Among them there are the
Szeklers’ Union of Romania, the Association of the Slav Macedonians of
Romania, the Ethnic Association of the Russians in Romania. They could
not participate in the polls, as the minorities that they allegedly
represent are not mentioned in the latest census. The BEC members also
turned down the registration of the Cultural Union of the Albanians in
Romania, which submitted a list with only 36 of the 72 signatures
required from supporters. The lists of sympathisers of the Hungarian
Civic Union (UCM) were referred to the Prosecutor’s Office to verify
if the signatories are members of the Hungarian ethnic group, as BEC
noticed the existence of several Romanian names on the lists. Further
to verifications, the decision was made not to accept UCM to take part
in the election. In exchange, two other organizations in a similar
situation, the Association of the Italians in Romania and the Cultural
Union Association of the Poles, do participate, the daily adds.
>From a political point of view, the national minorities are
represented in parliament, are part of the ruling process and are
consulted by the government. Article 5 (2) of the Romanian
constitution stipulates: “The organizations of citizens of ethnic
minorities, which do not meet in the election the required number of
votes to be represented in parliament, have, each of them, the right
to one deputy seat, as the electoral law says,” daily Nine O’Clock
reports.
In Romania, there are several parties and organizations of the
national minorities, and the ones below are represented in parliament:
Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania, Democrat Forum of the Germans
in Romania, Rroma Social Democratic Party, Union of Serbs in Romania,
Union of Armenians in Romania, Democratic Union of Turkish-Moslem
Tartars in Romania, Democratic Turkish Union in Romania, Union of
Ukrainians in Romania, Cultural Union of Ruthenians in Romania, Union
of the Poles in Romania-Dom Polski, Democratic Union of the Slovaks
and Czechs in Romania, Bulgarian Union in Banat/Romania, Lippovan
Russians Community in Romania, Federation of the Jewish Communities in
Romania, Union of the Croatians in Romania, Association of the
Macedonians in Romania, League of the Albanians in Romania, Greek
Union of Romania, Italian Community of Romania.

ARMENIA GETS OBSERVER STATUS AT INTERNATIONAL FRANCOPHONY ORGANIZATION
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2. ARMINFO. Armenia has got observer status at
International Francophony Organization, says Armenia’s FM Vardan
Oskanyan who has just come back from the IFO’s last meeting in
Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).
Oskanyan says that Francophony is highly respected in the world with
its authority daily growing along with its membership. Over 50 states
are already its members, dozens are observers. In Ouagadougou observer
status was given to Armenia, Georgia, Austria and Croatia. “I think in
the next few years Armenia will become the IFO’s full member,” says
Oskanyan.
Besides poverty reduction, globalization problems, cultural legacy
preservation Armenia is interested in the opportunity to cooperate
with the countries it has no chance to contact with under other
organizations this first of all concerning African countries. This is
especially crucial now that Azerbaijan’s policy at international
organizations is becoming increasingly aggressive, says Oskanyan.

SLOVAK PARLIAMENT’S ACKNOWLEDGING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE STRENGTHENS
ARMENIA’S POSITIONS ON INTERNATIONAL ARENA
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2. ARMINFO. The Slovak parliament’s acknowledging
the Armenian Genocide is significantly strengthening Armenia’s
positions on the international arena, says Armenia’s FM Vardan
Osknanyan.
The Armenian Genocide has ceased being an Armenian problem
only. Unless the past is condemned and preventive measures are taken
humanity may face new genocides in the future. Slovakia’s step was one
more drop into the international pressure on Turkey – this is getting
especially important now that Turkey is preparing for the talks for EU
membership. Europe does not accept closed borders. So Armenia is
working in this directions. Pres.Kocharyan has appealed to all the EU
presidents. All the foreign ambassadors to Armenia have been invited
to Armenia’s FM to discuss the problem. Turkey should realize that
Europe does not accept the fact that a country seeking to join it is
keeping close its border closed with a neighboring country involved in
the Wider Europe program and wishing to join Europe itself, says
Oskanyan.

SOME ARMENIAN PARTIES SPECULATE ON KARABAKH PROBLEM: ARMENIA’S FM
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2. ARMINFO. Some political parties of Armenia keep
speculating on the problem of the Karabakh conflict peaceful
settlement, says Armenia’s FM Vardan Oskanyan.
This speculations are damaging the settlement process and are working
against Armenia and the Armenian people. Today the opposition is
saying “yours, ours – ours was better.” They should understand that
the problem should be considered so as to make it as acceptable for
Armenia as possible.
All the opposition’s statements on the problem are coming to one
conclusion – that government should be changed. This proves that the
Karabakh problem is only a tool for them to attain their goal. This is
a serious blow on Armenia’s strong diplomatic positions in the world.
The opposition’s arguments have three serious flaws. First, in Astana
OSCE Minsk Group discussed just what is now on agenda. Before that the
Armenian and Azeri FM had met 4 times in Prague exchanging g opinions
and presenting their results of their discussions to their
presidents. OSCE MG new that Armenia is ready to continue the Prague
talks on the basis of the agreements reached by the FMs before.
The second flaw is that OSCE MG are alleged to support Azerbaijan’s
initiative at UN but in fact they are against it. UN postponed the
initiative discussion mostly because OSCE MG began to pressure
Azerbaijan into recalling it at all. The FMs and OSCE MG will shortly
meet in Sofia.
The third flaw is that Armenia and its government are reported not to
be interested in the quick resolution of the problem and to be
artificially delaying the settlement process. What they mean by
settlement – if what they are proposing then yes we better delay the
process – the present Armenian government will never give back its
controlled territories until the problem of Karabakh’s
self-determination is solved.
Armenia will not concede just for the conflict to be settled soon. The
same is for Karabakh’s de jure inclusion into Azerbaijan. The process
will go on until Armenia attains a solution meeting its interests and
the interests of its people. Azerbaijan’s current aggression is the
result of Armenia’s successful diplomacy. Azerbaijan is panicking and
is rushing from one international organization to another.